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In 1930, Princeton University established the School of Public and International Affairs, which was originally meant to serve as an interdisciplinary program for undergraduate students in Princeton’s liberal arts college. In 1948, the School added a graduate professional program and was renamed to honor Woodrow Wilson,[1] who was the 13th president of the University, governor of New Jersey and the 28th president of the United States. In two of Wilson’s speeches at the University – first during its 150th anniversary celebration in 1896 and again at his inauguration as the University’s president in 1902 – he mentioned “Princeton in the nation’s service.”[2] This phrase serves as the basis for the University's unofficial motto, which was amended in 2016 to "Princeton in the nation's service and in the service of humanity."[3]

In 2015, student protesters forced Princeton to reconsider having the School named after Wilson due to his racist views, of which they disapproved. The Wilson Legacy Review Committee ultimately decided to keep his name attached to the School, noting that, like many notable people in American history, Wilson was a complex figure.[4][5]

The School stresses a multidisciplinary approach to policy studies, which includes a focus on politics, economics, sociology, psychology, molecular biology, geosciences, and health. Undergraduate students at the Wilson School take courses in at least four disciplines including economics, history, politics, psychology, sociology, and science.[6] In their junior year, students must enroll in and complete a Policy Task Force, which addresses a specific public policy issue. Students conduct research, propose recommendations, and issue final reports.[7] The two-year MPA program prepares students for international and domestic policy careers. All second-year MPA students must complete a Policy Workshop, which emphasizes policy implementation. Students conduct field-based research and present their research and recommendations to clients. The one-year MPP program is designed for mid-career professionals, Ph.D. research scientists, lawyers, and physicians who are involved in international and domestic public policy. The Ph.D. in Public Affairs focuses on two research areas: security studies, and science, technology and environmental policy. The School works with other departments at the University to offer a Joint Degree Program that combines work in a social science with a multidisciplinary perspective on economics problems.[8] Graduate students also have the opportunity to pursue certificates in demography; health and health policy; science, technology and environmental policy; and urban policy/urban policy and planning.[9] In addition to the MPA, MPP and Ph.D. degrees,[10] the School offers a four-year MPA/J.D. program, and has formal joint degree arrangements with law schools at Columbia University,[11]New York University[12] and Stanford University.[13] Students often refer to the school by its colloquial abbreviation, "Woody Woo".

In 1961, Charles ’26 and Marie Robertson provided a gift to expand the graduate school. Their gift funded the construction of the School’s current home, designed by Minoru Yamasaki, who also designed the World Trade Center.[14] To the north of the building is James FitzGerald's Fountain of Freedom (1966).[15] In 2012,[16] the Princeton University Art Museum announced the installation of the “Circle of Animals/Zodiac Heads” exhibit by Chinese artist Ai Weiwei[17] on Scudder Plaza.

PolicyNet is a network of prominent public policy schools around the world, founded in 2005 as a joint venture between the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs and the Centre for International Governance Innovation for interaction and collaboration on issues of common interest, curricular programs, joint research projects and other activities.

This article's list of alumni may not follow Wikipedia's verifiability or notability policies. Please improve this article by removing names that do not have independent reliable sources showing they are notable AND alumni, or by incorporating the relevant publications into the body of the article through appropriate citations.(December 2017)

Nearly all full-time Woodrow Wilson School faculty members have dual appointments with other departments at the University. The School also has visiting professors, lecturers, and practitioners from the world of public and international affairs that teach. Faculty members at the School include Nobel Laureates, Pulitzer Prize winners, and former ambassadors.[19] Nobel Laureates include Angus Deaton, Daniel Kahneman, Paul Krugman, and Arthur Lewis.